Functional Training Institute

A huge congratulations to the latest group of FIT HUB Indonesia coaches in Jakarta, who are now certified Strength and Hypertrophy with Barbell Coaches through FTI Global.

This was a fantastic group to work with. They brought energy, focus and a genuine willingness to learn into every session, while continuing to ask questions, refine their coaching eye and challenge themselves through the practical work.

For FTI Global, this is what coach education is all about. It is not just completing a course or receiving a workbook. It is about helping coaches deepen the way they think, cue, observe, communicate and apply training principles with the people they work with every day.

A special mention to the FIT HUB team for bringing their best across the program and keeping Jacq, our Global Head of Education, on his toes throughout the sessions. That kind of engagement makes the learning environment stronger for everyone in the room.

We are proud to continue supporting the development of coaches across Indonesia and are already looking forward to the upcoming sessions in July across Surabaya and Bali. 🔥

Congratulations again to the FIT HUB Jakarta team.

What do you think makes the biggest difference in coach education, technical knowledge, practical application or the quality of questions coaches bring into the room?

The swing and clean may both start with the kettlebell handle, but they ask the body to solve very different movement problems.

In Part 14 of our illustrated kettlebell series, Coach Tarek explores how the handle connects the athlete to the bell, and how that same connection changes depending on the movement.

In the swing, the handle helps create rhythm and momentum. The bell travels, the hips drive, and the athlete learns to manage the flow of force through the hinge.

In the clean, the handle becomes part of a transition. The athlete has to control the path of the bell, manage timing and guide the movement into the rack without letting the bell crash or pull them out of position.

This is where kettlebells become such a useful coaching tool. They do not just ask for strength. They ask for timing, control, awareness and a better relationship with how the tool moves. 🔥

Credit to Pheasyque.com for the incredible artwork behind this series.

FTI Global, in collaboration with ZIVA, delivered Strength and Hypertrophy Training with Barbells to the awesome team at BeFit Philippines . 🔥

Led by Jacq, the session gave coaches practical time with barbell-based strength and hypertrophy training, covering setup, technique, loading, coaching cues, progression, and how to apply these tools with different clients.

Good barbell coaching takes more than adding weight to the bar. It means understanding the lift, reading the person in front of you, making smart adjustments, and helping the client get the most from the session safely and effectively.

A big thank you to ZIVA for the continued collaboration, and to the BeFit team for their energy, focus, and commitment to coach development.

Coaches, what do you think makes the biggest difference in barbell coaching: better setup, stronger cueing, smarter loading, or better progressions?

The first Anytime Fitness Certified Coach program has been delivered in the Philippines. 🔥

Led by Jacq over three intensive days, this certification brought Anytime Fitness Philippines coaches together to build stronger skills across movement, assessment, member onboarding, training, nutrition, recovery, coaching conversations, and professional PT standards.

Developed in collaboration with Inspire Brands Asia L&D, the program is designed to support coaches in bringing more value to their members while helping clubs improve coaching consistency, member experience, and PT performance.

Thank you to Anytime Fitness for continuing to invest in coach education, professional development, and stronger standards across the brand.

Coaches, what do you think matters most in a high-value coaching experience: assessment, communication, or program design?

If you are a coach within Anytime Fitness, reach out to your representative as more dates are quickly being added.

FIBO 2026 in Cologne brought together an incredible mix of fitness professionals, brands, coaches, clubs, and industry leaders. 🌍

FTI Global was proud to attend the event, with Coach Tarek spending time alongside ZIVA, connecting in person with partners, new clients, and the broader fitness community.

The event had a huge amount of energy, with HYROX continuing to bring new people into movement, health, training, and performance. It is exciting to see more people engaging with fitness in ways that challenge them, connect them, and keep them coming back.

For FTI Global, FIBO was also a great reminder of the value of real conversations. Meeting people face to face, hearing what clubs and coaches are working through, and seeing where the industry is moving gives even more meaning to the education we deliver.

Thank you to ZIVA and everyone who connected with us throughout the event.

What trend do you think is shaping the fitness industry most right now: HYROX, strength training, recovery, functional training, or coach education?

Most people focus on the swing.

Coach Tarek focuses on what happens before the swing works.

That is the point of this recap guide.

In the latest video, he breaks down three key cues that shape the ski swing:

Narrow your stance
Keep the knees slightly bent
Push the hips out to the side

Simple on paper.

But together, they completely change the way the movement is organised.

Because this variation is not just about taking the bell across the body.

It is about setting the body up well enough to create rotational power without losing the hinge, losing control through the finish, or letting fatigue turn the movement sloppy.

That is why the pro tip in this post matters so much:

💡 Most people think it is all in the swing. It is really in the setup.

Control the finish.
Avoid over-rotating through the lumbar.
And do not let fatigue take over the pattern.

Which of these cues do you think is the real game changer?

Missed the video? It's in the comments!

Most people think a kettlebell is just a kettlebell.

But once you spend enough time coaching with them, you realise that is not really true.

Different materials create different training experiences.

That is the idea behind Part 13 of our illustration series.

Cast iron kettlebells are familiar, durable, and often give that rougher, more grounded feel in the hand. Steel competition kettlebells bring more consistency in size and performance across loads. Plastic or vinyl-coated options can be a little friendlier on floors and noise, but they come with their own trade-offs too.

💪Same shape in principle.
💡 Different job in practice.

That is why understanding the tool matters.

Because great coaching is not only about what exercise you choose. It is also about knowing how the equipment itself changes the feel, intent, and application of the work.

Huge credit again to the wildly talented Pheasyque.com for another brilliant piece in this series.

What do you tend to reach for most and why? Iron, steel, or coated?